PESHAWAR, Aug 12: The NWFP social welfare department has asked the law department to amend the Vagrancy Ordinance, 1958, to he eliminate begging.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Zakat and Ushr Minister Hafiz Hashmet said the existing law was ineffective in curbing begging.

He said the government had started a campaign against vagrancy and set up a welfare centre for beggars in the provincial capital. He said the campaign had been launched on July 21 and more than 200 professional beggars were apprehended during it.

He said the provincial government had allocated Rs6.5 million in the annual development programme for the purpose. He said the directorate of the social welfare department would look after the centre, that would function for three years.

He said beggars would be given vocational training and encouraged to give up the practice. Hafiz Hashmet said initially men beggars would be kept in the centre and women would be taken to a women's crises centre which would start functioning soon.

He said non-government organizations would be involved in the campaign. He said the government would also set up rehabilitation centres for beggars in other districts.